Former MP Found Dead at 59 Following Controversial Exit from Politics
A former Conservative member of Parliament, who stepped down amid allegations of misconduct and drug use, has died at the age of 59.
David Warburton, who previously served as the MP for Somerton and Frome until June 2023, was discovered deceased in a west London apartment last week.
A statement from the Metropolitan Police confirmed: “Officers were notified by the London Ambulance Service at 10:47 a.m. on Tuesday, 26 August. A man in his 50s was pronounced dead at the location. Next of kin have been informed. The death is currently considered unexpected but not suspicious.”
Warburton resigned from his long-held seat two years ago after being suspended by his party in April 2022, pending an inquiry into accusations of harassment and substance use. His departure triggered a byelection, which was won by the Liberal Democrats.
He acknowledged using cocaine after consuming extremely strong Japanese whisky but refuted claims of harassment, maintaining that he was not given a fair opportunity to respond to allegations of inappropriate behavior toward two women.
In July 2023, the House of Commons confirmed the investigation into his conduct would not proceed further. Warburton expressed relief at the time but stated the ordeal had been “deeply distressing” for him and his family.
First elected in 2015, Warburton achieved the largest national swing to the Conservatives that year. He retained his seat in 2019 with a majority exceeding 19,000 votes.
His significant weight loss, dropping six stone in under a year, drew attention in political circles, as he had previously been medically classified as obese. He attributed his transformation to frequent use of a home gym during the early pandemic lockdowns, earning praise from then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock for his dedication to fitness.
Some colleagues, speaking to *CuriosityNews* in 2022, described his dramatic physical change as resembling a “mid-life crisis.” However, those who knew him expressed surprise when the allegations against him became public.
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